Process of extracting metal from ores.



No. 745,828. PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903.

B. B. HACK. PROCESS OF EXTRAGTING METALS FROM ORBS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1903.

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No. 745,828. PATENTBD DEC; 1, 1903. E. B. HACK. PROCESS OF EXTRAGTINGMETALS PROM ORES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented December 1, 1905.

PATENT rrrcn.

ERNEST BARTON HACK, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO TI IE AMERICANFILTER PRESS EXTRACTION COMPANY, OF DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OFCOLORADO.

PROCESS OF EXTRACTING METALS FROM ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,828, dated December1, 1 03.

Application filed January 19, 1903. Serial No. 139.715. (N0 specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST BARTON HACK, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing in the city and county ofDenver and State of Colorado,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes ofExtracting Metals from Their Ores; andIdo declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which 'it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to a process of extracting metals from their ores(being especially adapted for the treatment of gold ores) by means ofasolvent of cyanid of potassium or bromo cyanid or other bromin mixturesor other extracts of alkali or alkaline earths, my object being toincrease the rapidity and cheapen the cost of extraction as comparedwith the existing methods.

The invention will be described in connection with its use on gold ores;but it must be understood that it is not limited thereto, as it will befound efficient in the extraction of other metals.

In extracting gold by means of solutions of cyanid of potassium, sodium,bromin, &c., I adopt the simultaneous application of the solutionwhereby it is made to thoroughly permeate every part of the pulp mass tobe treated and the necessary oxidation by means of the action of airupon gold, which is thereby rendered oxidizable by the action of cyanidor other solution. Instead of depending solely upon the agency of theexternal atmosphere for the oxidizing action I employ compressed airacting on the pulp to be treated, the air being applied through theagency of channels or passages with which the machine or filter-press inwhich the pulp to be treated has been placed. The solutions pass intothe pulp simultaneously with the air-current, and by so arranging themechanism employed that the exit-channels for the solution and air areof greater pressure capacity than the inlet-channels I attain a thoroughpermeation of the pulp under treatment.

In carrying out myprocess I first pass the pulp by any desired meansinto a suitable receptable,preferably of the construction shown B. Thesolutions are then removed from the cakes by air-pressure. Next a strongsolution or solvent is passed through the pulp until a completeextraction of the values is obtained, after which the pulp is againdried by compressed air. Then fresh Water is passed through the pulpunder strong pressure to remove the remaining solutions. After this stepthe pulp is again dried by compressed air and the residue or ganguefinally discarded. The solutions containing the gold or other metals arethen treated in the usual manner, whereby the values are precipitated.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a perspective view of afilter-press, being a suitable apparatus for carrying out my process. Inthis view a portion of the press is removed at one end to disclose thestructure of the inside. Fig. 2 is a section showing the arrangement ofthe filter-press members .A and B. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of thepulpholding frames, the supporting-shafts therefor being shown incross-section. Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the filter members,the filter-cloth being partly broken away on one side and thesupporting-shafts on opposite sides being shown in section.

The pulp-holding members B and the filtering members A are alternatelyarranged and are provided with projections at opposite diagonal cornersin which are formed registering openings forming longitudinal passagesC, D, E, and F, communicating by lateral channels with the interior ofthe press. To

.ings.

each filter-frame is applied two filter-cloths V, one being located oneach side of the frame. Only one of these cloths is shown in the draw-(See Fig. 4, where the cloth is partly broken away.) As the filter-clothis an ordinary element of a filter-press, it is believed that furthershowing of this feature is not required. The pulp is introduced at Oandenters all the pulp-holding chambers or compartments simultaneously. Thesolutions are introduced at D and drawn oft at E or H, as desired.

H is a faucet-valve communicating with each filter member and throughwhich the solutions may be drawn off from each filter member separately.

E is a common efflux or discharge passage communicating with all thefilter members.

The necessary air for drying purposes is introduced at F and afterpassing through all the pulp cakes escapes at E.

The various filteringand pulp-holding members are provided with hooks orprojections J, which engage supporting-shafts K, mounted at oppositesides of the machine.

A screw-shaft L, provided with a hand-wheel M, is employed in tighteningthe members A and B of the press,whereby the joints between the variousmembers are made perfectly tight.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. Theherein-described process of treating ores, consistingin forming the pulpin to cakes and subjecting the cakes to the leaching action of asuitable solution in the presence of compressed air which is introducedsimultaneously with the solution and continued during the leachingoperation.

2. The herein-described process of treating ores consisting in cakingthe pulp under pressure, allowing the moisture to escape, andintroducing a solvent solution simultaneously with the introduction ofair under pressure.

3. The herein-described process of treating ores for the purpose ofdissolving their metallic values, consisting in caking the pulp byapplying pressure thereto under conditions allowing the moisture toescape, introducing a solvent solution simultaneously with a supply ofair under pressure, passing air under pressure through the cake forremoving the remaining solutions, again introducing the solventsimultaneously with the introduction of compressed air, and finallydrying the cake by the use of air under pressure.

4. A cyanid process consisting of the following steps in the ordernamed: caking the pulp by pressure under conditions allowing themoisture to escape; introducing a weak solution of the solventsimultaneously with the introduction of air under pressure; drying thepulp by passing air under pressure therethrough; introducing a strongersolution of the solvent simultaneously with the introduction of airunder pressure, and finally drying the cake by air-pressure.

5. A process of treating ores whereby the values are dissolved,consisting first in cak ing the ore by pressure under conditionsallowing the moisture to escape whereby the cake is left comparativelydry; second, introducing a solvent simultaneously with the introductionof air, the solvent being passed through the cake; and finally passingair under pressure through the cake whereby the remaining solution isremoved.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST BARTON HACK.

Vitnesses:

DENA NELSON, A. J. OBRIEN.

